Declan - 1.5 Years Old

8/16/2014 - 2/15/2015

Declan,

You are now 1.5 years old!  We had so much fun the past 6 months!

After your big first birthday celebration, there was still a bit of summer to enjoy.  So of course we went to the spray pool since you and your bro like it so much there.  You were really into this time and you had so much fun playing with your brother and patting the water as it shot up.

We also went to your friend Keegan's birthday party.  They had a big bounce house there, but you were still a bit too small for that.  You liked watching bro play in there and you absolutely loved it when Alex pushed you on the swings:

With September came some tough news.  We had to leave your babysitter that we loved.  She was so good with you and we hated to leave her, but there were circumstances surrounding the daycare center that I was just not comfortable with, so we moved on.  Becky was so sad to see you go.  We will cherish the time we had with her.

That was about all the sadness we had time for though.  A couple weeks after you quit Becky's daycare, we started you with a new daycare with Lisa.  This was a very good switch at the time and you took to that daycare pretty quickly.

We continued having as much fun as we could squeeze in when mommy wasn't working.  We went to the Museum of Transportation.  You and Alex love that place so much.  You really like walking through the cabooses, tanker cars and engines and just seeing all the trains.  You also love riding the mini train:

You and Alex just love going to the park and this fall you learned how to go down the slide all by yourself.  This has opened up so much more fun for you and Alex!


At the end of September, the Museum of Transportation had their 'Go by Train' weekend, so Gram and Poppy wanted to take you and your cousins for a fun day.  You had a blast with your Gram and Poppy and your cousins!

Once October came around, we had a little issue with some pretty severe diaper rash.  It was bad enough that you couldn't go to daycare, but not so bad that we couldn't have some fun.  So since mom had to take a day off work anyway, you and I had a fun day at the Zoo, just me and you!

As you can see, we had so much fun at the Zoo!  Unfortunately I wore you out a bit too much and you fell asleep just before we pulled into Adriana's.  Mommy was a bit bummed, but I understood and you definitely needed your sleep!

It was unseasonably cold in early October, but we decided to go to apple picking anyway.  You had a great time picking the apples off the tree and you loved the little ride we took to get out to the fields.  Grandma Gerry and Paw Paw joined us on our apple picking trip.  It was such a fun day!

The weather warmed up a bit (back to normal anyway) so we decided to go to Grant's Farm.  You had a great time on the tram and running all over the place looking at the animals.  It was a beautiful day!

The next week was Frisco Friday, so we went to the train store.  You have started to explore the place a bit more on your own, but still mostly just hang out with mom or dad.

The weekend after that, we celebrated Halloween at the Museum of Transportation.  It was so much fun for you and Alex to be able to try your costumes out before the actual day of Halloween!

You were so tired, you fell asleep in the stroller.  We had to get a picture of the Fireman and the Dalmatian in front of the old firetruck though!

The weekend right before Halloween, we went to Rombach's Farm for some fun and Pumpkin Picking!  You loved running around the open fields and you REALLY loved the giant pumpkins!  You also had fun playing in the little fort and doing "Happy Feet" as much as you could!

You and bro loved riding the pumpkin train together this year!

Anything that is roundish, you call an apple.  Alex thought this was particularly funny around Halloween time because every pumpkin you saw, you would say, "Apple!"  Here is Alex laughing at you calling a pumpkin and Apple . . .



October came to a close with Halloween itself.  You were such a cute little dalmatian!  You had so much fun running around the neighborhood and getting candy.  It was a great night!

The Saturday after Halloween, you were up bright and early and therefore so was I.  We were just hanging out and I was falling asleep a bit and I opened my eyes to you with a sucker in your mouth.  Apparently I wasn't very diligent about putting away all the Halloween candy, oops!  You were so proud of yourself for finding it!

It was about this time that we introduced you to popcorn for the first time.  You LOVED it!  I put you in my bed with bro and you guys munched away while watching a movie.  Unfortunately for me, this didn't last long.  I stepped out of the room for a minute and the popcorn was ALL.OVER.THE.PLACE!  Oh well, I should have known better!

As the weather got colder, we started doing more indoor activities.  One of our favorites is the Science Center.  You are starting to get really active and into the exhibits at the Science Center.  Your favorite part this year was the interactive floor.



Hands up over the bridge!

When the weather's nice, we still try to get to the park as much as possible.  You just love your brother and you follow him around wherever he goes:

Dad and I decided to do a Turkey Trot with your Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Debbie, Grandma Gerry and Paw Paw.  We decided to go ahead and bring you guys in the stroller.  You and Alex were all cozy in stroller all bundled in your blankets and coats.  We all had a great time!

At the end of November, we went to Frisco Train Store for Braden's birthday party.  A big train went by, which was very exciting and you also were able to hit your first pinata!

Once we hit December, it was time to start getting ready for Christmas!  The first thing we did was go to Eckert's to get a tree.  This year was much better than last year for you.  You were able to run around and you liked watching daddy cut down the tree!

A couple days after we got our tree, it was time for St. Nicholas to pay us a visit!  We put out our stockings and shoes and the next day, here is what St. Nicholas brought us:



Later that day, we went to the Cor Jesu Breakfast with Santa.  You had a good time and were actually able to participate in some of the activities this year.  You loved the Candy Cane Walk and and the ring toss.  At one point in time we looked around and you were gone.  We looked all over frantically and then I finally stood on the stage so I could have a bird's eye view of the gym.  Lo and behold, you were at the ring toss watching the other kids toss the rings and clapping for them.  It was a bit scary, but so funny when we finally found you.  You also had a good time dancing on the stage!

The next weekend, we FINALLY had time to decorate the tree.  While we decorated the tree, dad, Alex and I were drinking hot chocolate.  Since you were too young to drink hot chocolate and we didn't want you to feel left out, we gave you spoonfuls of whipped cream.  You LOVED that and didn't even miss the hot chocolate!

One morning we got up early and mommy had some gift wrapping to do.  Since you didn't quite understand what it was that I was doing, you thought it was a fun game.  You had a blast sitting on the gifts and walking on them.  I didn't get much done that morning, but it certainly was fun!

We also rode the Polar Express this year.  We weren't sure if we wanted to bring you or not since you are so young.  We just weren't sure you would get it.  But boy are we glad we brought you!  You had so much fun!  The wonder in your eyes was there the whole time.  You loved the cookies that "Chef Sam" gave you and you had a good time with the music and looking out the windows.  You, however, did NOT like Santa Claus.  Other than Santa, it was a very fun and very magical time for you!

After all these pre-Christmas activities, it was FINALLY time for Christmas!  Of course mom was doing some baking for Chrismas Eve and your bro taught you a couple tricks of the trade.  When mommy's not looking . . .

That night we went to mass with Gram and Poppy at St. Martin's and then we headed back to Gram and Poppy's house for food and gift opening.  You loved opening gifts this year!  You also loved trying to climb up the gifts.  You are such a climber!!!

On Christmas Morning, we opened gifts at our house first.  You loved all the gifts, but both you and Alex liked the new train the best.





After opening gifts at home, we had our annual brunch at Gram and Poppy's house.  You guys had a great time with dad and the forks!



After brunch we went home for a nap and then to Grandma Gerry's and Paw Paw's house.  There was more food and lots of gifts.  It was a great Christmas!

After Christmas, dad and I had a couple days off, so we had some fun.  We went to the Magic House and daddy dressed you like a doctor.  I have to admit, you will make one good looking doctor some day if that's the route you choose:

We also took another trip to the Science Center.  You really like the little cut-outs in the bridge and you enjoyed the dinosaur.  I'm not sure how much longer till you are scared of that thing, but for now you really like it!

In early January, we did one last holiday activity.  We went to Our Lady of the Snows to look at the Chrismas Lights.  We let you and Alex sit in the front seat with us as we drove through.  Your eyes were huge as you looked at all the pretty lights!

After all the fun of the Holiday Season, it was time to go back to reality.  At this point in time things were still great at daycare and you had a good friend named Syler.  Apparently Syler was giving you hugs all day long and you were like, enough already!!!

This one is from a couple weeks later.  The little girl is Olivia.

Next was Grandma Gerry's birthday.  She loves you guys so much that she wanted nothing more than to go to Frisco Friday with you guys for her birthday.  This time you were much more involved.  You sat at the table all by yourself and decorated the cookie.  You also played with trains all by yourself.  It was fun to watch you.

Next came daddy's birthday.  You and Alex loved waking up and giving him his presents!

On dad's birthday, he loves you so much that he wanted nothing more than to go to the Magic House with you guys.  You are loving the fishing hole lately!

You helped me create your name and your brother's name in lights:

Then your bro and I created a message for daddy:

You did NOT like the static ball!

Later that day I made your dad's birthday cake.  You and Alex LOVED licking up the left over frosting!

At the end of January, it was time for your first haircut.  You had a bit of a Jheri Curl up front and a bit of a mullet going on in the back, so we decided to just get it straightened out a bit.  You were not crazy about the whole process, but Abby got it done.  You looked great afterwards!

We are always trying to find different things to do during the cold winter months, so one night we decided to go play mini golf at America's Incredible Pizza.  You, of course didn't actually play golf, but you did have fun running around and playing on the props.

I was planning on not letting you try McDonald's until you were at least 2 years old, but alas, you have a big brother who likes to leave his fries laying around the house.  Needless to say, you REALLY like fries!  Oops!  Mom fail, lol!

In general though, you are a very good eater and you just love to eat good food!

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream (the picture says it all)!

You make quite a mess when you eat, so it's a good thing you also love bubble baths!

You like to play the recorder at Gram and Poppy's house:


You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and whenever the "Hot Dog" song comes on you bounce up and down and sing along with the "Problem Solved!" part as you open our arm out the the right.  It's awesome!


You love to dance!  Aunt E always has something playing that you bob your head to or jump up and down to.  Not shown in this video (but definitely shown in the St. Nick's Day video above), daddy and I just LOVE how you almost involuntarily shake your head whenever there is a song on that you like.


You sleep with your little butt up in the air:

You still tend to get into stuff that you shouldn't be into from time to time.  We didn't really need bay leaves anyway, lol!

You and Alex do everything together.  You call each other "bro" and you just absolutely love each other!  I really warms this mama's heart to see you two loving on each other so much.

You call Gram "OOOMAAA" and Poppy "Aboo".  It's great!

You are growing so much and are turning into an amazing little boy.  I love you so much Declan!

Love,

Mom